A year later, Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine keeps in his dresser drawer a coin and scrap of paper Flip Saunders gave him.
The coin bears the team logo, a token Saunders had commissioned in limited quantities for Wolves players and staff members to remind them they’re part of something exclusive and special.
Saunders scribbled down LaVine’s name the morning of the 2014 draft, a premonition the Wolves president of basketball operations and coach had about the athletic draft prospect Saunders hoped and believed he’d select with that night’s 13th pick.
LaVine keeps those mementos close by to remember Saunders, who died a year ago Tuesday at age 60.